Packaging coins



Jan. 3, 1961 l.. los 2,966,769

PACKAGING COINS Filed Oct. 20, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 IIHIHlIHHIIHIIHIIIIHHHIIIHHIIIIHIH (im. U Wk 'l a J-I Jan. 3, `1961v Fild oct. 20, 19,59

L.. los 2,966,769

PACKAGING coms 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 70

Jan. 3, 1961 L. loB 2,966,769

PACKAGING COINS Filed Oct. 20, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 IP- A Jan. 3, 1961 Frmd oct. 2o, 1959 L. IOB

PACKAGING COINS 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 llllllllll l||| Il Hl Jan. 3, 1961 l..v los 2,966,769

. PACKAGING COINS Filed Oct. 20, 1959 n 45 Sheets-Sheet 5 United States Patent -fi PACKAGING colNs Luigi lob, 9 Via Monastero, Merano, Italy, assignor of one-half to Fabio Ossanna Filed Oct. 20, 1959, Ser. No. 847,661 Claims priority, application Italy Dec. 13, 1956 8 Claims. (Cl. 'S3-254) This invention relates to coin packaging and more particularly to a new and improved coin packaging apparatus and is a continuation-in-part of my co-pending application, Serial No. 702,163, iled December ll, 1957, now abandoned.

A principal object of the invention is to provide an inexpensive coin packaging apparatus highly etlicient in operation for packaging stacks of coins of various denominations. Y

A feature of the coin packaging apparatus, according to the invention, is the combination of a tray for quickly stacking and counting coins of various denominations and a plurality of re-usable coin holders alike for corresponding coin denominations. The tray has elongated channels inclined from end-to-end having a curvature in cross-section for readily forming stacks of coins therein of diiferent diameter corresponding to different denominations. A longitudinal groove is formed in the tray at the bottom of each of the channels and the groove and corresponding channel open to one side of the tray. The coin holders are U-shaped, open at one end, and have oppositely disposed, arcuate side portion-s, one of which is insertable axially or longitudinally into the groove of the tray through the open end thereof and cooperates With the tray groove and is axially guided therein while the packaging function is being carried with the apparatus.

Other features and advantages of the apparatus in accordance with the present invention will be better understood as described in the following specication and appended claims in conjunction with the following drawings in which Fig. 1 is a plan view of a strip or stamping of bendable material usable in forming coin holders according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation view of a coin holder with a stack of coins therein;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation view of the coin holder shown riny Fig. 2 taken at ninety degrees from the view shown in Fig. 2;

4 -is a top plan view of the coin holder shown in 1g.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a tray for stacking and counting coins according to the invention;

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a crossdsectional view taken along line 7-7 of Fig. 6; n

Figs.' 8 and 9 are perspective views of another embodiment of a coin holder;

Fig.' l0 is a side elevation View of the coin holder shown inFig. 9 illustrating the manner in which a stack of coins is held in the holder;

Fig.A 1l is a top plan view of the coin holder in Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a plan view of another embodiment of a tray according to the invention;

2,966,769 Patented Jan. 3, 1961 ICC Fig. 14 is a fragmentary plan view of a tray according to the invention illustrating counting indicia thereon;

Fig. 15 is a perspective view of another type of coin holder according to the invention;

Fig. 16 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 16-16 of Fig. 15;

Fig. l7 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along line 17-17 of Fig. l5;

Fig. 18 is an exploded view illustrative of a fragmentary end portion of the coin holder shown in Fig. 15 and illustrates the manner in which an end cover piece fits thereon on an open end of the coin holder.

According to the drawings, Figs. l through 7, a plurality of individual coin holders for holding coins A in stacked relationship are each formed from a strip or stamping of bendable metallic material, capable of retaining a deformation, having a central portion 1 equal in length to the diameter of a coin of a given denomination to be packaged in the coin holder and two side portions 2, 3 bendable into position in a manner later herein indicated so that they confront one another. These side portions 2, 3 are of predetermined length suiciently long to hold a given number of coins of a given denomination when formed into a coin holder. At its outermost end strip portion 3 has a reduced section forming a bendable tongue 3a which is insertable through an aperture 4 of a tab 5 atan opposite end as keeper means to hold the' sides 2, 3 in position against the stack of coins A in pack-x aged form. The tab 5 can be bent to lock the tongue 3a in position in the assembled coin holder.

In order to easily form individual stacks of coins of various denominations a tray 11 is provided having longitudinal channels 14--17 inclined from end-to-end by provisions of a base in which a frontal wall 12 is lower than a rear wall 13. Each channel is cylindrical form- -ing a longitudinal section of a cylinder and has curvature corresponding to a curvature of a coin of a given denomination and diameter which is to be stacked therein. Thus, for example, channel 14 can Vreceive a coin of a given diameter and denomination. Similarly, channels 15, 16, 17 are provided for coins of other `denominations and whose curvature corresponds `suitably for the diameter of the corresponding coins to be stacked therein.

Each of the channels is provided with a central longitudinal groove 19 extending longitudinally along the bottom of the corresponding channel and opening to a front side of the tray adjacent the lower end of the channel. Frontal wall 12 is so constructed that abutment means 18 extend inwardly of the corresponding channel adjacent the lower end of the channel and are so spaced as to al` low the channel to open to the same or front side of the tray to which the groove opens.

The curvature of the individual channels is that of a section of a circle so that the coins are supportable therein in stacked relationship and can be easily formed into stacks of desired quantities or numbers of coins with the coins sup-ported on the sides of the channel and 'thereby the bottom of the groove 19 is radially spaced from the coins. The inclination of the channel allows stacking quite easily by manually pressing the coins against abutment means 18.

In order to package the coins" in the coin holders the bendable strip is inserted extending axially along the groove and is guided thereby'.v The strip extends longi-'i tudinally out of the groove 19 and is readily bent into the shape 'of a U-shaped coin holder by holding the stackof coins of a desired number against abutments 18 and bending the strip upwardly so that portion 1 coincides with' the` diameter of the endmost coin at the frontal or lower end of the channel andvportion 3 is bent into a-.pQSitiOQ confronting portion 2 overlying the stack of coins. After bending the strip the holder formed and coins therein can be removed from the tray and tongue 3a inserted through aperture v4 closing the open end of the coin holder and tab 5 bent over thereby to releasably hold the sides 2, 3 of the coin holder in position against the coins and holding the coins against at portion 1.

Another construction of the coin holder, according to the invention, is effected by providing strips arcuate 1n cross-section and having curvature corresponding to the coin to be held in the coin holder in the manner shown in Figs. 8 through 1l. In such a construction, at portion 1 corresponds to the diameter of the coins in stack A and side portions 2', 3 are formed in section or arcs of circles with side 3 forming a larger arc less than a semicircle corresponding to one-half of the coin so that the coins are securely held without danger of falling out of the coin holder once formed. A bendable strip 6 is inserted through an aperture 4' and an eyelet 5 with portion 8 bent upwardly and portion 7 bent downwardly along side 3 so that the side portions are held in xed relationship holding the coins between them and strip 6 holds the coins against flat portion 1. It being understood that this second construction of a coin holder is effected from a strip or stamping in a manner heretofore disclosed with respect to the first mentioned coin holder construction.

The tray according to the invention, Figs. 12 through 14, is preferably provided with indicia yas to the coin denomination received in the individual channels and means are provided for easily counting the coins forming the individual stacks. Thus, a tray 21, made of a suitable' material, as for example from plastic by molding, is' provided with several pairs of channels for handling or stacking coins of a given denomination, for example, channels 22 and 23 are provided for stacking coins such as a dollar coin. Markings or indicia are provided for channels usable for packaging nickels through dollars in the example shown in Fig. l2. These indicia are, of course, provided directly on the tray 21 from a die from which the tray is made. It will be understood that the several channels in tray 21 are inclined end-to-end as heretofore indicated with respect to tray 11 and each channel has a longitudinal groove such as a groove 24 in channel 22 extending longitudinally therein opening to a front side 25 of the tray 21. The grooves are of different widths and are so dimensioned as to cooperate with a coin -holder for a given coin denomination in a manner later herein disclosed.

In order to facilitate counting the number of coins in forming the individual stacks, one of the channels of the pairs of channels for stacking a given denomination coin is provided with transverse recesses or notches 27 oppositely spaced, disposed `axially spaced along the channel. The width of the recesses 27 is sufficient to allow a coin 29 to enter a recess or notch and seat therein at a lower level than the coins 30 intermediate the notches. The notches are spaced axially along the channel 24 at predetermined distances corresponding to a given nurnber of coins. Forexamplefnotches 27 may be spaced for having every fifth coin seated in a corresponding notch. In this manner, the coins may be rapidly counted. Alternatively, scales 32, 33 may be provided on at surfaces of the tray 21 intermediate adjoining channels to allow easy counting of the coins. For example, a channel 34 for nickels is shown as having thirty-one nickels and a channel 35 is shown as having twentyeight dimes as indicated on scales 32 and 33 respectively.

Another construction of the coin holders according to the invention is shown in Figs. l5 through 18. According to this construction a coin holder 36 is formed `and needn'ot be formed asmentioned heretofore and is made of# aslightly hendable plastic material having anend" cooperating with the tray 21 in a manner later herein disclosed. The holder 36 i's provided with angularly spaced, arcuate, oppositely disposed side portions 39. 40. Side portion 39 is so dimensioned as to engage greater peripheral surface of the coins held in the holder than the side portion 40. Side portion 40 is dimensioned to t a corresponding longitudinal groove of a channel for axial guiding thereof as later herein disclosed. The bottom portion 37 is suiciently' long to allow coins of a given diameter to be packaged in the holder and the side portions 39, 40 are so dimensioned that only a given number of coins are' receivable in th;` coin holder. In this manner coin holder according to the invention will hold a given number of coins of a given denomination. The oppositely disposed sides are provided with a lip or rim 42 for engaging an internal recess 4.3 of a cap 44 used to close the open end of the coin holder once a stack of coins is packaged therein'.

In order to package coins of a given denomination in corresponding coin holders such as holder 36` the individual coin holders are inserted, once a stack of a proper number of coins has been formed, into theV tray axially by inserting the smaller side 40 into a corresponding groove through the open end while holding the side portions 39, 40 spread apart. The side 40 is guided in the corresponding groove so that the coins areY insertedr into the holder between the oppositely disposed sides and then may be lifted as a stackout of the tray and cap 44 placed in position closing the holder. It beingunderstood that the coins in the transverse notches such as 27 are sufficiently spaced from the bottom of the'corresponding groove to allow the side 40 to be inserted underneath the coins of a stack. When the holder Vis inserted axially of the corresponding channehytllev shoulders 38 ride on surfaces 46, 47 so that the individual coin holders are positionable individually extending longitudinally in the channel for receiving or picking-up the coins with the closed end thereof toward the open end of the corresponding channel.

In each of the embodiments of the coin holders the coin denomination and the number of coins receivable therein may be stamped, molded or otherwise indicated thereon.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be understood that many modifications and changes can be made within the scope of the invention. l What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1S! 1. A coin packaging apparatus comprising,j in,con1- bination, a tray having at least one elongatedV channel inclined from end-to-end, said channel being arcuate in cross-section so as to receive coins of agiven diameter in stacked relationship, said tray having -a'groove disposed in the channel extending longitudinally along-the bottom of the channel, said groove opening at one end thereof to a side of the tray adjacent the lowerend of the channel, abutmentmeans on the tray extending inwardly of the channel adjacent the lower end of the channel spaced to allow the channel Vto opentothesame side of 'the tray that said groove is openforgreceiving a. plurality of U-shaped coin holders of flexiblel material each having side portions and one end closed and an opposite end open, and each positionable individually extending longitudinally in said channel with the closed end thereof toward `the open end of said channelthjereby to receive a stack of coinsY therein, said coin-holders' having one sideportion positionable extending axially in the groove underlying a stack of coins in said channel and another side portion overlying the stack of coins, and

each coin-holder having means positionableon'the'pen end of the coin-holders cooperative' with said side' porholding thecoins internally ofthex holder.

tions to hold the side portions against the coins therebyl` aanwas closed by a flat bottom portion 37 with shoulders 38 for nation,la tray having at least one elongated channel inclined from end-to-end, said channel being arcuate in cross-section so as to receive coins of a given diameter in stacked relationship, said tray having a groove disposed in the channel extending longitudinally along the bottom of the channel, said groove opening at one end thereof to a side of the tray adjacent the lower end of the channel, abutment means on the tray extending inwardly of the channel adjacent the lower end of the channel spaced to allow the channel to open to the same side of the tray that said groove is open for receiving a plurality of U-shaped coin holders of exible material each having angularly spaced, arcuate oppositely disposed side portions and one end closed and an oppo site end open, and each positionable individually extending longitudinally in said channel with the closed end thereof toward the open end of said channel thereby to receive a stack of coins therein, said coin holders having one side portion positionable extending axially in the groove underlying a stack of coins in said channel and the opposite side portion overlying the stacked coins, and each coin holder having means positionable on the open end of the coin holders cooperative with said side portions to hold the side portions against the coins thereby holding the coins internally of the holder.

3. A coin packaging apparatus comprising, in combination, a tray having at least one elongated channel inclined from end-to-end, said channel being arcuate in cross-section so as to receive coins of a given diameter in stacked relationship, said tray having a groove disposed in the channel extending longitudinally along the bottom of the channel, said groove opening at one end thereof to a side of the tray adjacent the lower end of the channel, abutment means on the tray extending inwardly of the channel adjacent the lower end of the channel spaced to allow the channel to open to the same side of the tray that said groove is open for receiving a plurality of U-shaped coin holders of flexible material each having angularly spaced, oppositely disposed side portions and one end closed and an opposite end open, and each positionable individually extending longitudinally in said channel with the closed end thereof toward the open end of said channel thereby to receive a stack of coins therein, said coin holders having one side portion positionable extending axially in the groove underlying a stack of coins in said channel and the opposite side portion overlying the stacked coins, and each coin holder having keeper means positionable on the open end of the coin holders cooperative with said side portions to hold the side portions against the coins thereby to hold the coins internally of the holder.

4. A coin packaging apparatus comprising, in combination, a tray having at least one elongated channel inclined from end-to-end, said channel being arcuate in cross-section so as to receive coins of a given diameter in stacked relationship, said tray having a groove disposed in the channel extending longitudinally along the bottom o-f the channel, said groove opening at one end thereof to a side of the trayradjacent the lower end of the channel, abutment means on the tray extending inwardly of the channel adjacent the lower end of the channel spaced to allow the channel to open to the same side of the tray that said groove is open for receiving a plurality of U-shaped coin holders of llexible material each having angularly spaced, arcuate, oppositely disposed side portions and one end closed and an opposite end open, and each positionable individually extending longitudinally in said channel with the closed end thereof toward the open end of said channel thereby to receive a stack of coins therein, said coin holders having one side portion positionable axially extending axially in the groove underlying a stack of coins in said chan nel and the opposite side portion overlying the stack of gotas, each coin holder having cap means positionable clined from end-to-end, said channel being arcuate in I cross-section so as to receive 'coins of a given diameter in stacked relationship, said tray having a groove dis posed in the channel extending longitudinally along the bottom of the channel, said groove opening at one end' thereof to a side of the tray adjacent the lower end of the channel, abutment means on the tray extending inwardly of the channel adjacent the lower end of the channel spaced to allow the channel to open to the same side of the tray that said groove is open for receiving a plurality of U-shaped coin holders'of flexible material each, having angularly spaced, arcuate oppositely disposed side portions and one end closed and an opposite end open, and each positionable individually extending longitudinally in said channel with the closed end thereof toward the 4open end of said channel thereby to receive a stack of coins therein, said coin holders having one side portion positionable extending axially in the groove underlying a stack of coins in said channel and another side portion overlying the stack of coins, each coin holder having keeper means positionable on the open end of the coin holders cooperative with said side portions to hold the side portions against the coins thereby holding the coins internally of the holder, and indicia on said tray for indicating the number of coins in said channel.

6. A coin packaging apparatus comprising, in combination, a ltray having at least one elongated channel inclined from end-toend, said channel being arcuate in cross-section so as to receive coins of a given diameter in stacked relationship, said tray having a groove disposed in the channel extending longitudinally along the bottom of the channel, said groove opening at one end thereof to a side of the tray adjacent the lower end of the channel, abutment means on the tray extending inwardly of the channel adjacent the lower end of the channel spaced to allow the channel to open to the same side of the tray that said groove is open for receiving a plurality of U-shaped coin holders of llexible material each having angularly spaced, arcuate, oppositely disposed side portions and one end closed and an opposite end open, and each positionable individually extending longitudinally in said channel with the closed end thereof toward the open end of said channel thereby to receive a stack of coins therein, said coin holders having one side portion positionable extending axially in the groove underlying a stack of coins in said channel and another side portion overlying the stack of coins, each coin holder having keeper means positionable on the open end of the coin holders cooperative with said side portions to hold the side portions against the coins thereby holding the coins internally of the holder, and said tray having recesses disposed transversely of said channel spaced axially thereon for indicating the number of coins in said channel.

7. A coin packaging apparatus comprising, in cornbination, a tray having a plurality of elongated channels inclined from end-to-end, said channels being arcuate in cross-section so as to each receive coins of different diameters in stacked relationship, said channels each having a uniform section throughout its length and having similar sectional configurations differing in transverse dimensions for each receiving coins of a given diameter, said tray having a groove disposed in each channel extending longitudinally along the bottom of a respective channel, said groove opening at one end thereof to a side of the tray adjacent the lower end of the channel, abutment means on the tray for each channel extending inwardly of 'the Yrespective channeladjacent the lower end of the channel spaced to lallow the channel to open to the same side lof the tray that said groove is open for receiving a plurality of U-shaped coin holders of exible material each having angularly spaced,arcuate, oppositely disposed side ponionsvand one end closed and an opposite end open, and each positionable individually extending longitudinally in a respective channel with the closed end thereof toward the open end of said respective channel thereby to receive a stack of coins therein, said coin holders having one side portion positionable extending axially in the groove beneath the stacked coins, and each coin holder having keeper means positionable on the open end of the coin holders cooperative with said side portions to hold the sideY portions against the coins thereby holding the coins internally of the holder.

8.V A coin packaging apparatus comprising, a tray having at least one elongated, channel inclined from endto-end, said channel being curved in vcross-section so as to receive the 4coins and having a center groove extending longitudinally along the bottom of the channel, said groove opening at one end thereof to a side of the tray adjacent the lower, end of the channel forreceiving a plurality of like' strips of bendable material each' positionable individually extending longitudinally inrsaid groove with coins forming a stack overlying it in said channel and extending outwardly of the open end of the groove, and each strip being bendable into a U-shaped coin holder having opposite sides for holding the coins therein and a flat portion across the end of the stack of coins adja- Cent said open end of the groove, and each coin holder having keeper means positionable on an end of the coin holder opposite the Hat end thereof to releasably hold the sides of the coin holder in position against the coins and for' holding the coins against said flat portions.

No references cited. l 

